The Fashion of Horror: Witches

[@rachellydiab]

Hey all, thank u for the amazing response so far ❤❤ I just realised I have made 2 mistakes - i’ve mixed up the onscreen birth/death dates of Guillaume Ediline with a Belgian painter from the 1900s! The Ediline I’m discussing was alive in the 1400s. Secondly it’s been pointed out to me that Viy is considered a Ukrainian story as the author Gogol is of Ukrainian origin. Not trying to argue with this but most online sources called it a Russian novella, which is why i said it was russian in the video! Sorry for missing these before publishing xxxx

[@shellnet411]

Just so you know more of the origin of the broom and a lot of the things we associate with the witch the broom and door is things from the women who for the longest time made beer it was a women's job for the longest time and it eventually became lucrative and men were trying to get women out and take over so alewives would put the broom outside the door when they were brewing so people knew when they could get beer there is also a few things about the hat you can find all this it's based on like the types of women the wise women of the time that could take care of themselves without a man it's based in misogyny so it's a whole evolution based on the misogyny that infiltrated western culture it's all based in misogyny The healers women who could live without having a man support them the history of witches is fascinating I've been studying monsters and witches and witchcraft both mythology historic tales movies and books and then the real people that practiced and the religions that evolved into modern day witchcraft practices that were taken out of many different cultures it is so many twists and turns in so many branches it's crazy how much you have to study to even know anything about it even scratch the surface I've been watching documentaries reading books watching movies to see the movie takes vampires werewolves witches monsters of all types everything from the league of extraordinary gentlemen VanHelsing underworld and twilight to the worst witch fantastic I did watch Harry Potter but it was quite doll after you watch the worst witch and every other story prior that they stole the storyline from to make Harry Potter so I wasn't a big fan as a real person who practices witchcraft and the most extremely rare form being one of the first people before you could find anybody who actually did it I've been practicing Christian witchcraft for 30 years almost next year will be 30 years I have been practicing Christian witchcraft only like two years ago did I find the first Book where somebody wrote about Christian witchcraft which I've been practicing forover25 years at that point I've been studying witchcraft almost 35 years I said witchcraft for five years before I was able to figure out my path I studied mythology the occult different forms of witchcraft natural remedies and magic for five years before I set my path and started practicing I was an older at30 I found it on my own at a very young age I'm also a unicorn somehow I have a bump on my forehead but has been there for quite a long time ago whore it's not very big but I have one unicorn i've been called a fairy like Faye i'm of Irish and Welsh descent shorter in stature I kinda do Fit the transcription when they were more like wizards if you go into Lake historic fairies Morgana le Fay it was Morgan of the fairies Arthur sister fairies were people during the time of Arthur which would be 500 AD roughly at the fall of the Roman empire Harry Potter doesn't even get that right Maryland couldn't have gone to Hogwarts if he was a grown man 500 years before Hogwarts came to be she is stupid but like because I know where she got it from and how stupid she is and how she's like very stupid she's basing it on like a renaissance type era Arthur not really a medieval Arthur not the proper time. Putting in 1000 years after the story Merlin did not go to Hogwarts Hogwarts was a long time after Merlin Hogwarts even within Harry Potter they're witches and wizards as being the same just different genders is totally stupid that they stole that from the worst witch but witches and wizards are two different things because wizards can be male or female the female wizard is a wizard that's a gender neutral term a male wizard is a wizard a female wizard is a wizard Morgana Le Fay was a wizard she was Merlin's apprentice Arthur's sister studied under Merlin she was a wizard

[@jockey28]

Sources call it "Russian", because at the time of publication Ukraine was part of the Russian empire. However, it still very clearly set in Ukraine and, as it was pointed out, author is of Ukrainian descent.

[@franciscosantossilva4202]

I'd just add to that that Black Sunday is not an American movie, but Italian, directed by Mario Bava, filmed in Italy and in Italian. It's not to be confused with Frankenheimer's American film of the same name from 1977.

[@odilejones9129]

I LOVED this. I had it saved in my watch later till October for Halloween. It was worth the wait. And I don’t know why you have an issue with your make up in your witches is black segment. It looks cool.

[@0Asisay0]

Thank you from Ukraine

[@Nyzahnewton]

I don't know why, but as a gay man I've always felt a connection with witches in media. Perhaps it's because we share a common struggle in finding acceptance and navigating societal expectations, but I think what really sold me on them was seeing these powerful, magical beings unapologetically being themselves. There's something truly empowering about witnessing their unwavering sense of self, their defiance against a world that might not always accept them. In a way, their journey mirrors my own.

[@rachellydiab]

Hey! loved reading this, thanks for watching 💜

[@Nyzahnewton]

@@rachellydiab Hi! Love your videos, please keep up the great work 🩷

[@Taylorjade007]

Doesn't help that witches are always played by gay icons too 😂 💞✨

[@Nyzahnewton]

@@Taylorjade007 So true 😭🫶🏾

[@golwenlothlindel]

@@Nyzahnewtonand that a lot of drag queens have been inspired by witches, and vice versa. A lot of villains were social rejects, and a lot of them were queer-coded, so queer people often identified with them. And of course, a lot of villains were witches: particularly during the 1970s, as witches embodied the sexual revolution. I think for this reason that while we might start to see more male witch characters, they will always be dressed in feminine fashion: patriarchal fears of feminine power and desire are a core part of the witch concept. You can see that going all the way back to Circe in The Odyssey and Delilah in the Bible. These sorceresses might not be outright evil, but they represent the fear men in patriarchal societies have of losing their privileged status.

[@Weird0W]

Mary poppins is absolutely a witch. I never noticed the awesome cloak to train detail in Witches, thank you for pointing it out!!!

[@deekeller9562]

I saw a linking of Mary Poppins and the Pennywise/It creature ... which was disturbing and uncanny and oddly rather perfect...

[@t.wilson9432]

Tony Walton did the costumes for Mary Poppins also...😊

[@KerrieKruegner]

Yes it’s obvuios if you read the books not so much in the prettified Disney film

[@kristineweber8084]

@@KerrieKruegner I'm not sure about obvious.... the whole family are practitioners of magic of one sort or another, but it's not made clear whether they are witches or perhaps some sort of fae-related family, or simply their own thing. It's one of the mysteries of the series, that unbelievable things could be expected to happen, but you weren't allowed to talk about it after it was all over. Nothing was EVER clear. But you could call her a witch. Her character has many outward similarities.

[@emilyglass6625]

I dont remember ever seeing it come on tv when I was a child, but as an adult I found an episode of Mr Rogers’ Neighborhood featuring the actress who played The Wicked Witch of the West. In an unusual choice, she simply came to his “house” set for an extended segment, where she was introduced as having played the Wicked Witch, and the two just talked about acting and playing pretend and characters and how it’s okay to explore the emotions you might feel - like being scared - when you play a character or watch one on screen. I believe they got out and handled her costume pieces, and she transformed her persona for a minute or two, to show that she could become the Witch and then come right back. She was so reassuring and empathetic to children who get scared by fictional characters, but she also expressed such joy and a sense of fun about acting, telling stories, and playing pretend. I kind of fell in love with her. Anyway, I know that’s off-topic but what I felt distilled in the experience of watching that episode kind of captures something about what costume in general makes me feel and why I never get tired of hearing discussion about costume

[@Ticket2theMoon]

Thank you so much for sharing that, I really love it! 😊

[@AlexaSmith]

This is amazing :)

[@rachellydiab]

Yess I’ve seen this!! I know Margaret Hamiltons career really struggled because people actually thought she was unpleasant/frightening, which is so sad. But the Mr Rogers appearance is such a lovely show of her true self 💜

[@sleepysartorialist]

I remember that episode, I was surprised how kind she was.

[@SwiftFoxProductions]

Yes! I've seen that sequence, as well. Margaret Hamilton, actually, used to be a kindergarten teacher before she became an actress so, she loved children and must've been delighted to be on Mr. Rogers' show. I know it always broke her heart when children would be afraid to meet her after she played the Wicked Witch. So, it makes perfect sense to me that she would choose to be introduced as herself first during her appearance on Mr. Rogers. She was such a sweet lady from everything I've ever heard about her.

[@Aschmaed]

Back to the beginning of the video another interesting thing about common witch imagery I learned from my dad who studied beer brewing in Munich: back in the day, beer was often brewed by women known as Ale Wives. They kept cats to keep their brewery clear of pests, wore pointed hats to indicate their status as a guild member, and placed a broom outside the door or had a symbol of crossed brooms above the door to indicate the brewery was open and had beer available. Not entirely sure how those images got mixed into witchcraft but I’ve always found it interesting that that such classic witchy imagery was used by these alewives first!

[@Theeldritchwitch]

People have said that the church didn't really like how much power the ale wives got through their business, and that is why they were said to have worked with the devil

[@Aschmaed]

@@Theeldritchwitch typical religious men being mad women do anything besides have children 😂

[@jaimicottrill2831]

When men started being interested in brewing ale themselves (and keeping the money made from it instead of it going to the women), then traditionally female roles such as midwife and healer, (picking herbs, brewing potions),and ale wife (the imagery you mentioned), all became things associated with witches and therefore "evil" It is a little similar to the origin of the word "spinster". Spinning produced broadcloth which was expensive, but since spinning was women's work then it was females who made their money this way. It was one of the very few ways that a woman could earn her own money and be independent outside of marriage in times when your "choices" were usually marriage or the convent. So the word spinster got turned into the image of the lonely woman without a man, someone to be pitied; instead of the independent women surrounded and supported in her workplace by other independent women.

[@DipityS]

Black can hide itself so well; I never realised the Wicked Witch of the West's costume was so pretty.

[@oksanas9697]

on the 'Vyi" segment: here in Ukraine flower crowns or wreaths used to be worn at weddings (by the bride) traditionally, so even if it isn't stated directly, her dying unmarried would be assumed by the audience

[@SwiftFoxProductions]

Also, probably worth mentioning regarding the use of nudity, specifically, in 1970s films... this time period was right after the Hollywood studio system fell apart and (by association) the Hays Code. Suddenly a lot of filmmakers were finally able to include things in films they had never been allowed to before, like nudity. It was, also, the time of the sexual revolution and suddenly being sexual was perceived as "modern". So, many filmmakers went a little crazy adding nude scenes into their films both because they were suddenly actually allowed to do it and it made them more likely to be perceived as "cool" by the younger generation (since it would automatically associate them with the sexual revolution). So, in this particular time in film history, merely suggesting nudity ran the risk of seeming prudish or old-fashioned in a way that is not true today. Not saying that this was always the motive but, I do think some younger 1970s filmmakers, in particular, did feel some expectation or pressure to include nudity if they had the chance and/or that adding nudity would give them some extra "cool points" with the young counterculture crowd. (I mean, watch the 1970 Woodstock documentary and spot how many naked people you see... hippies of the early '70s were really not shy about nudity). P.S. The dissolution of the Hays Code is also why you get a lot of really disturbing/dark storylines in late '60s/early '70s films because, directors really did go a little freakin' wild doing all of the "deviant" plot lines they were never allowed to include before. 😅

[@melani3149]

i would eat up a full video on suspiria's costumes and i've never heard of this film until now

[@sydney9011]

Watch the original from the 70s first!! I think its very worth it to compare the two movies since the more recent iteration of it was made purposefully to contrast the first.

[@rachellydiab]

I don't have a video on the costumes specifically but I do have a video from last year analysing the 2018 film 🌹

[@Inthepotwithdiogenes]

I was just going to comment this.

[@sydney9011]

@@Inthepotwithdiogenes should we hold hands about it? 🤝

[@Inthepotwithdiogenes]

@@sydney9011 yes 🤝

[@dariapimenova1949]

Viy is based more on Ukrainian folklore and pAnochka is a shapeshifter, clearly evil. Her "public" form is an unmarried girl, so your logic is right about her flower crown. Gogol wrote the original, he has nice folklore-based tales not only hard-to-translate satiric novels

[@rachellydiab]

Helpful, thank you!

[@anupreetiboro1352]

Really loved your Vampire fashion one, I keep replaying your video because it's almost like a comfort background noise now 😂❤

[@MonarchsFactory]

Great analysis! I actually don't think the overtly feminine aesthetic is inadvertent at all - I'd argue that witches represent this fear of powerful women via the perversion of everything that women "should" be. Associations with objects of cooking and cleaning, the hearth, but they're not using it to sustain, they're using it to blight and corrupt. They have hovels in the dangerous woods which should represent shelter and safety, but don't. Instead of nurturing children they lure them away and eat them. The symbolism around witches take all of these traditionally "feminine" associations and twist them into something evil. So then, it makes a lot of sense that our cultural aesthetic associations for the *fashion* of witchcraft would lean heavily toward the feminine as well.

[@rachellydiab]

Hi!! This is such a good point, thank you for sharing 🧚‍♂🧚‍♂

[@phuongpenca]

It’s a small thing, but I love how you introduced the green outfit/set early on, then used different scenes to teach us about the symbolism of green. When you go back to the green set, we actually notice it, with the dress, the candle and the leaves. It’s such a nice touch for the video and it makes the viewer (or at least me) feel excited to have learned something. I found you thought the Immaculate video and have been loving the channel ever since! :))

[@rachellydiab]

@@phuongpenca Thank you! It makes me very happy when people notice these details bc i do genuinely run around my house like a crazy person trying to create cohesive little sets with visual links 💚💚 and thank u so much for being here !

[@emilyheatley7885]

To add to the "why wasn't she red or purple" about the Wicked Witch of the West, I love that her green contrasts the ruby slippers. It adds a visual layer of Dorothy and the witch's battle through the film. This is such a great video!!!!

[@natwilson9338]

in defense of mary vogt, i think changing the symbols slightly was a good idea not because they might have literal mystical powers, but because you can never really research or predict what real-world symbols might become or have once been hate symbols. like i think it's pretty well known that swastika/swastika-like symbols were symbols of peace in south asia but obviously have a different connotation now. so i think she was really smart to adapt ancient runes even though i agree they probably aren't actually magical also now that you've put the idea of butch witches into the world i need to see that portrayed IMMEDIATELY. amazing video!!!

[@beahoney2277]

Came here to point out the same thing! A lot of runes from Norse mythology and things like that have been co opted as hate symbols by modern groups, turning the runes into nonsense means you don’t run into the issue of accidentally showing support to one of these groups.

[@randallbesch2424]

in Asia they still use swastikas.

[@Ooramge]

Love how dense this video is, between the movie clips, the analysis, the jokes, the textual sources, the reference images… I know i will be rewatching this a few times. I loved the vampire costumes video and this one is a new favorite. (the different colors and fonts on the title cards were a great choice btw)

[@rachellydiab]

Such a lovely compliment, thank you so much for appreciating the work ❤

[@sabimaki4269]

48:54 I don't think Mary Vogt meant that using an ancient symbol would actually summon something evil - I think it's more likely she wanted to avoid any symbols that could have a negative connotation in another culture, as to not upset anyone or make the witch characters appear as genuinely 'evil'.

[@GKnapptime]

Not just upsetting another culture, but also ultra religious (generally Christian) crowds

[@foreseen]

Great video! I wanted to mention that in "Bell, Book and Candle" (spoilers for an almost 70 year old film), the witch protagonist wears pants, hangs out in a jazz bar with other witches (Jack Lemon!) and is a strong independent woman but when she falls in love with a mortal and renounces her witch self she starts wearing dresses and gets excited about being a housewife (you really can tell that was a 1950's movie).

[@randallbesch2424]

I would like to see that scenario reversed!

[@MiddleChildHysteria]

If I could add my interpretation to the analysis of The Wiz: The story, both Dorothy's real world and the land of Oz, are based on boroughs and attractions in New York City. Dorothy starts off in Harlem (she's never gone south of 125th street) and the goal is to make it to the Emerald City, which is Manhattan based on the large buildings and wealthy people dancing in the center. We can see more of this strange NYC in the area with crumbling buildings where she meets the Scarecrow (the Bronx circa arson insurance scheme era), the amusement park where they meet the Tin Man (Coney Island), the location where they meet the Lion (the Lion is one of the two lions, Patience and Fortitude, that "guard" the main NYC library in Manhattan), where they meet the Poppy Girls (Times Square when it used to be the Red Light District), and the chase scene with the Flying Monkeys (Yankees Stadium?) Michael Jackson's outfit has always been interesting to me because it appears to be based on the garbage that was left around the Bronx at the time. His head is full of garbage (discarded fortune cookie fortunes) his nose is an empty Reese's cup, and his torso and legs look like pieces of long-mended fabric barely handing on. Evilline and the sweatshop also reminded me of the sweatshops that exist(ed) in the Garment District of Manhattan. The circular, mechanical elements of her clothing feel like a reference to the fake and broken clocks that are sold in that area and the Chinatown nearby. It would also explain the gaudy and shiny elements of her clothes (more fake jewelry) and the outfits the laborers are wearing (so trapped in their destitute conditions that they eventually become masked/faceless creatures whose bodies become enmeshed with the clothing they create). I have yet to see the Broadway production (as of July 2024 it's still running) but would love the costume designer for the original play and film to discuss the context of their designs. The film is absolute trash but it's trash I love!

[@claressadubs]

Love this analysis! That makes so much sense

[@jennykerr6360]

😮 Wow!!!... Super cool connections!!!... I will have to re-watch it now!

[@arielhansen4344]

This video isn't just up my alley, it IS my alley. Love this series so much! Will be crossing my fingers for a Ghost Costumes in Film video in the future 👻

[@rachellydiab]

Aw that's so cool! Ty 🌹and ghosts are on the list (though I gotta say... the list is long hahah)

[@claressadubs]

Ghost costuming would be super interesting!

[@kaitlinowens2714]

Hi something I have noticed with the Sanderson sisters costumes is: 1. Winnie is the only to have a metallic color in her costume that being gold possibly another way to show that she’s the leader of the sisters. 2. Mary’s costume resembling a baker kind of goes with my theory she may have been the inspiration for the witch from Hansel and Gretel who is also associated with baking and cooking. 3. All three sisters have purple in their dresses that shows them they are a group but Winnie’s is more of a bright jewel purple where her sisters purples are more faded and another way that could represent her as the leader. (Though the purple in question does show up in Sarah’s cloak)

[@BryonyClaire]

This was so interesting and would've taken the longest time to do, i love your outfit homage to The Craft the most, immediately recognized the reference!

[@rachellydiab]

It really did hahah, i think i opened the google doc in February lol. And yess thank u!!!

[@JordanVanRyn]

First I want to say thank you for this amazing analysis on the costume analysis of Witches. As you know, Witches have always fascinated me and I self-identify as one. I remembered when I first got into witches when I watched most of Disney's films, then later with the Hex Girls in Scooby Doo, Harry Potter and everything else that came after that. But the thing about witches in general is that they really had a long complex history. In the Ancient times, witches were originally medicine women, midwives, alchemists, advisors and oracles and they were trusted people in those times because the word "witch" meant "wise woman/person". When the rise of the Church came into power, it became an excuse to commit massacres and torture hundreds of people who didn't conform to their ways. But as much as we like to portray witches as either a god-fearing monstrous villain or the embodiment of female individuality and agency, many times the Witch is actually a human made into a monster by society's prejudices towards free-thinking women. It's like in that scene in "The Witch" where while we hear the witch's laugh in the barn, we also hear the mother laughing simultaneously while she's being poked by a raven. That shows that the "witch" could very well be any woman you know in your life, be it your mom, grandma, wife, sister or friend. The Witch lies within all of us. It's good that it's making a comeback and that more people can see how far the Witch has come throughout history. Also great video though!

[@lexiisca5069]

And we KNEW Angelica Huston would be featured twice

[@PlantGothKira]

Hoodoo practitioner here! This was absolutely lovely and I have subscribed! While similar too Vodun, I think we both need more positive representation. Honestly it's inspiring me to make a video on Hoodoo/Vodun stereotypes and fashion.

[@rachellydiab]

@@PlantGothKira Oh i’m so glad u enjoyed, thanks for being here! And do it!!! ✨

[@crow-jane]

Thank you YT recommendations for knowing me so well. This feels like a channel about to blow up.

[@rachellydiab]

glad it found u! fingers crossed x

[@angeledog]

Abby Cox, a Dress Historian and a great content creator did a video about three years ago about the history of the witch hat.

[@screamingbegins4688]

i loveee that video!!

[@pierresosa6988]

I highly recommend an addendum looking at the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, particularly when looking for warlock fashion.

[@fjolliff6308]

Great takes! As for the worry over symbols on Winnie's dress: it's not going to summon a demon, but could draw negativity and bad luck. That's the last thing you want to put on your best actress! I'm speaking as a witch, btw. Symbols are my preferred form of magic. I also love that they created new symbols for the dress with such care in mind, it created new magic energies and likely contributed to the enduring legacy of Hocus Pocus. Well, maybe the real magic came from Bette Midler!

[@Amethyst_Witch3110]

Witches, historical fashion and fashion analysis, wrapped up in a video by one of my current favourite video essayists, this was just the video I needed while sick! 💜

[@rachellydiab]

hey thank you 🌹🥲 get better sooon

[@gunstarheroine5173]

What a delightful, insightful, well researched video! I must admit I'm very interested in the contrast of the portrayal of witches from the male gaze versus the female gaze. Maiden witches (Charmed, the VVitch, The Craft) often retain their soft femininity to appeal to men and make sure they're not TOO unpalateable; they're often 'redeemed' in some way that signals their ongoing innocence (I love your discussion on bonnets/free hair which I feel connects to this kind of innocent sexuality). It's the crones/hags that I find interesting, and your discussion of beauty = morality is SO on point. From the male gaze they are true creatures of horror who are simply to be subdued and killed, as they have no sexual value to men, and categorically eschew the nurturing/caregiving aspects that are the only things the male gaze finds useful about older women. From the female gaze, however, they are starting to be reclaimed as vessels of power and individualism; a rejection of patriarchal values. Thank you for the informative and beautifully researched video!

[@rachellydiab]

love love love this - and thank you for 💓

[@sophiaaldous3199]

🙌🏻 Very well said

[@Awesomesprinkles]

I’ve also heard that the wicked witch’s skin was green because they were having some sort of issue with her wearing all black with the technicolor and they needed her skin to stand out next to it

[@Rayven444]

No your makeup in every scene is so fun! You’re gorgeous too! I am a modern day witch- not like Wiccan but like women who used to be accused of witchcraft. I even have a black cat named October. Thanks for this awesome video

[@rachellydiab]

@@Rayven444 thank you sm ✨✨ glad u enjoyed!

[@inerciasart]

I did not come into this video expecting to see Goya, but can't say I'm surprised lol. He did draw a lot of witches (los caprichos was a series made to criticise spanish society in his time so it made sense) Honestly I'm really enjoying your videos 😭

[@beanie42069]

I would absolutely love if this became a series! I discovered your channel through the vampire costume video and thought the way you presented everything was so informative but also entertaining! keep up the amazing work!

[@rachellydiab]

thank you sm. I have 4-5 more planned already so keep an eye out xx

[@lavalamp5909]

I love clothes, i love costumes, i love witches! I wrote my final degree essay on suspiria and had to dig so deep to find info on the costumes! Your video on the film helped me get my head round the themes :))

[@rachellydiab]

@@lavalamp5909 So cool, glad it helped!!

[@thealphafox64]

10:00 this is a concept also nicely represented in The School For Good And Evil, especially the movie. The main characters’ looks are an important plot device in multiple instances and sometimes directly correlate to the moral alignment of the person. Very interesting considering the message of the story.

[@AndrewLaSane]

Would not have noticed the "bad" makeup because I'm pretty sure that zipper cast a spell on us all

[@rachellydiab]

@@AndrewLaSane hahaha, eyes on the prize

[@gabriellacrystal3518]

Not me subscribing before even watching the video because I’m so excited about this.

[@mechhil]

Good video, I like the depth of it, however I want to correct the example about Viy as a "russian novel", because it is in fact novel written by the author of Ukrainian descent, it is set in Ukraine and based on Ukrainian folklore. The life story of Gogol, the author of the novel, is very nuanced regarding his national identity, considering the times he live in, but it is still imo must be stated that Viy belongs to Ukrainian culture as it is speaking about Ukrainians(I mean, even the names of characters in Ukrainian, Pannochka means "young lady, daughter of wealthy man or noble" and Viy literally means eyelash.) Also quite interesting in this whole situation is difference of perception of witch in the Western Europe and in Ukraine in general. Due to the fact that we are located in the very diverse religious region(islam on the south, roman and greek catholicism on the west and north, orthodox on the north and east, and all of them has specific paganic roots), personal religious paths of many people were very unorthodox and much more acceptable by society, comparing to the west. So, considering that, Ukrainians were and still kinda are neutral towards the witches, It's only when they bring harm to the crops or livestock etc, they are judged in folklore. And that's for me, kinda changes the whole perception of the Pannochka in the novel, since it is, to me personally at least, not talking about the witchcraft as the source of horror, but of the death, which is kinda leaning onto the vampire territory, if we're talking about the symbols behind the creatures of the night. Pannochka is to be feared not because she is a witch, but because she is dead, and the whole summoning of the creatures is more of the "Dance Macabre" type than devils from the hell of whatever. Therefore, while there is a great deal of the witch symbolism in her character, I really do think that she is kind of hybrid character, heavily leaning into the vampiric side rather than the witch one. P.S. Russians and their sympathizers dni

[@rachellydiab]

Hello! Thank you for this, very helpful insight. When I looked into the novel it was often listed as Russian literature and I didn't research Gogol specifically, so I missed this information. Appreciate your contribution 🌹

[@Inthepotwithdiogenes]

Incredible analysis. Thank you for the addition, I learned a lot!

[@randallbesch2424]

First flying on a broomstick or animal is transvection. 2nd the brush part faces forward 3rd A transvection is a linear mapping of a vector space over a skew-field with certain properties. It generates the special linear group and induces a projective or affine transformation in the projective space. (How they fly with anything also Saints did too.)

[@ltpvs]

THIS is EXACTLY why i subscribe to your channel! i LOVE your topics and the way you present said topics!

[@rachellydiab]

stopppp ur all so kind, thank you ✨✨

[@oliwiamatylda8258]

you've helped me immensely with writing my diploma work on witches and ther clothing in cinema. thank you, thank you, may you live in happiness and remain free of worries forever

[@cimmerianco]

I have basically binged watched all your videos in less than two days! Loved them all! I'm excited to watch the next ones :)

[@jiangwanyeehaw]

What I find very interesting is what you said in the end about femininity and witchcraft, specifically feminine clothing being so present in our idea of what "a witch" looks like. I am currently writing a story in which I have a gender fluid witch character who's more male than female in pronouns and body but is extremely androgynous otherwise. He's also wearing mostly dresses and I like your theory about why might have subconsciously done that!

[@rosieevans8960]

It's like you go in my brain to find a video I will love! Adore Witch fashion, especially the practical magic and the witches of east wick! Also the suspiria outfits, madame blanc's red dress especially!

[@rachellydiab]

i lurk there always hahah. Hope u enjoyed!!

[@kermzyxor]

in eastern europe flower crown is a very strongly established traditional bridal gown (and overall a symbol for girl's youth, beauty and aspirations for marriage), and there is also a tradition (not completely gone even to this day) to burry young unmarried women dressed up as brides.

[@fixsationon7244]

I remember "Kunksmoor". An estonian kids cartoon of a witch who lived on a Island alone. (she had interesting outfits when she moved to the city. Looking over the top and camp.)

[@lacym9278]

I really appreciate your work, I love all the research that you do. Please keep it up!!

[@rachellydiab]

Thank you 💜💜

[@sekaihatsu]

Thank you for showing a variety of films! There are many that I haven't seen or heard of. Hooray for Summerween!

[@velvetgoldmind]

love your purple sweater, it looks stunning omg

[@rachellydiab]

so cool right! thank u to bestie britt

[@GodsGoddesesMythsMonsters]

Hmmm interesting. please note that everything that is in all caps was done solely for emphasis not to yell. The ICON Angela Basset truly embodied THE VOODOO QUEEN Marie Laveau! In Coven she truly snatched the edges off of Fiona Goode’s head when she told her that “EVERYTHING you got, you got from US! ✊🏽Through Tituba this is 1000% correct! 2. HOW in the world did you not mention the LEGENDARY Lena Horn as Glinda the Good witch. 3. They did Rachel True absolutely wrong and dirty. I do LOVE❤your take on witches fashions throughout the movies and in history. Have an amazing weekend!🎉🎉🎉)O(

[@marcodemarchi5954]

You should definitely do a whole video for Suspiria! I feel like there's so much to talk about!!!

[@lyndsycarson8302]

Emma Rossums wardrobe in Beautiful creatures was stunning Like Tim Burtons Sleepy Hollow with Christina Ricci All of the woman were amazingly dressed.

[@liaml.e.5964]

A more recent example of a witch costume I enjoyed a lot, was Agatha Harkness' in Wandavision. The vibean colours and flowy cape and the boots suited her style SO well.

[@mattdeml7560]

Fantastic video! We'd love to see a full video on Suspiria costumes!

[@bowspritely]

This was really entertaining! I’d definitely be interested in a warlock/sorcerer follow-up if there is enough material and that is something you’d be interested in

[@ltpvs]

oh gawd, now youre getting into the remake of Suspiria>!!! grrl your essays are KILLER!!!

[@solofemmenoire9108]

Somebody mentioned beautiful creatures!!! And thank you for acknowledging how I feel about Evilene from the Wiz.

[@kyriaki4901]

Exceptional analysis!!! Bravo! Was amazed that you mentioned the Ukrainian folk horror film and also Blood on Satan's Claws! How the green color connects to witches or something evil.. loved it💚🖤

[@rachellydiab]

@@kyriaki4901 thank you so much ✨✨

[@sophiaaldous3199]

Now that I have watched it all the way through, allow me to say you did a phenomenal job and I 💯 agree with you on the difference between The Craft and The Craft: Legacy in terms of costuming your characters and costuming for the sake of just looking cool. 👍🏻

[@Sandoler]

The main character in the television show Discovery of Witches (adapted from the book of the same name) is a witch who primarily wears pants, especially during the first season. (The second season doesn't really count to me because women weren't allowed to wear pants in that time period - although the scene with her switching to breeches during their travel is interesting.) And again in the third season, she's show mostly in pants. It's interesting to think about this, particularly because she's an academic and her look is very inspired by classic British academia and prep, and because she's a witch who doesn't want to be a witch.

[@spacedustcowboy7555]

Oh! Hi lol I just finished watching your vampire fashion video and I liked what you had to say

[@rachellydiab]

hi! ty!!

[@wolfcat1973]

I wrote an entire presentation on Evileen's song and the clothing worn by her and her workers for school. I grew up on The Wiz and absolutely adored it. I honestly didn't even remember that movie's version of Glinda.

[@sindiaperez959]

I actually was going to ask for a tutorial of your green eye makeup. loved it!

[@Fezziwigtoys]

I love this channel! Thanks so much for all the work you do!

[@morgangrau]

this series so far is amazing. so comforting and I also never watch youtube videos but am so content and happy watching your videos. the way you film your videos is really cool too, I love how you switch up the makeup, outfit and locations 🫀

[@rachellydiab]

this is such a delightful comment to read. Thank you so much, i’m so glad you enjoyed it 🌹

[@camhunts]

So hype for this! Your videos are the most comprehensive 🙌

[@rachellydiab]

thank youuu 🌹🌹🌹

[@ltpvs]

... why "the love witch" is one of the best indie films ever made!!!

[@parrisxsummers]

The white witches dreads, as narnia, is based on native pre Christian European culture. Dreads were worn in the Nordic and Celtic region. The dreads are not questionable at all. (I’m Jamaican fyi)

[@BrandonBorradaile]

This video is a cultural moment. It's for the girls, the gays and the guys in between. Always wanted to see this video just didn't know it! Love seeing this comp of iconic witches and legendary divas.

[@rachellydiab]

@@BrandonBorradaile achieving this is what i live for 💜💜

[@BrandonBorradaile]

​@rachellydiab sis I've literally watched it like 10 times already. The research you did was so in depth. The rabbit holes you must have fell down. 😂😂😂❤❤❤ much appreciation for bringing this to life. I KNOW this video will have a million views before long. Watch. Trixie and Katya fan too right?

[@rachellydiab]

@@BrandonBorradaile Ahhh that's so kind thank you again!! x

[@rachellydiab]

ps yes- huuuge UNHHH fan heheh

[@BrandonBorradaile]

​@rachellydiab yea you made a couple subtle references and I said oh she's family. Lol.

[@rooboatdeer22yu51]

Firstly thank you for this video and your work, it's amazing. In my opinion, you can say Every art enthusiast/people who very obviously connect to creation energy and beauty believes in magic, and there inner child is quick to showcase this where as some people with different less artistic interests as they grow older (in this day and age) are quick to silence that part of our psyche as human beings. You don't have to be a REAL witch/mystic/priestess/spiritual master/ someone interested in the occult at all to be attracted to magic. Everyone is , everyone uses their imagination and Your imagination is an extremely powerful healing tool. You can say that's magical and when used correctly, the imagination never disappoints . it's sorta magical that electricity runs through our bodies. intuition is not clinical and strictly scientific, It has a magical feeling to it. Love and creativity has a magical feeling to it that is very real and experienced . Sometimes (A lot through out history) unexplained things happen in nature, miracles have been reported in our modern and ancient times hidden from view hence the word occult and demonetization of healers/medicine people etc. If you want to find out magic is real it takes some digging or Your path is already set up to be that way due to the souls choice. Magic is hidden from most of the population I am dead serious unfortunately , But that doesn't mean it simply disappears from nature , reality, and beauty. It comes up in everyday little pleasures and malicious intent. Anyone can use the energy bestowed on them by reality/god/nature/universe/ Star dust for good or ego/evil/not soul centered acts. Just because your an atheist or whatever you identify as(not the maker of this You-tube channel but in general) does not mean nature will skip calling on you to connect deeper with yourself and it when you fall out of alignment. Nature changes often but humans choose to stay stagnant in the way they look at things for a long time And that is changing again. The earth IT-self/herself is showing and has been showing many signs of forcing us to take responsibility for our actions. We view nature as cruel a lot as humans but maybe that's because we have chosen to deviate from our natural state which is connection. We are a part of her and she a part of us, yet people pretend like we are separate. The earth very obviously has intelligence that is hard for current humans to wrap there heads around with the toxic culture we created. In fact many people do not understand cause and effect. That the past present and future always connected. The present moment has magic to it, as we've seen with the mental health developments in recent years and spiritual movements for decades. A forest fire can produce and even more lush potent forest, Magical. Creepy weird sh*t that happened to Carl Jung growing up doesn't have to happen to you for magic to be at your finger tips/within every single day. Being intentional is magic, and your awareness even has energy to it. Sometimes you can literally feel the eyes of someone one watching you as a human. When you finish you're best friends sentence, that is magical. Magic and nature/god can be very practical and extremely precise. I do think it's silly that one little symbol would have an evil impact. In the un-evolved egoistic state of mind, evil acts are much more simple everyday apathy or very elaborate always stemming from trauma. I am The young old crone of my friends too!!! Woooo!

[@joemorales9653]

A great documentary. I was totally immersed in it. I was a bit saddened that you didn’t include The Witches of Eastwick and that you didn’t include Elvira a bit more aside from a few flash images. Again bravo on this video!!! I am now a subscriber!

[@rachellydiab]

@@joemorales9653 Aw thank u so much and welcome to the channel! There may be more witches to come in future vids 🦋

[@kennabear4418]

I love your fashion videos! (I think it's only 2 so far but I love them!) id be really interested in seeing one about zombies or if Frankenstein type monsters has enough content to make a video about!

[@rachellydiab]

Aw thank you! Oooh yes, I may do a general 'monster' one in the future and include zombies 💐💐

[@wh0reofbabyl0n12]

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES MENTIONED!!!!!

[@nicoalbarn]

this was so entertaining I didn't even realize the video is almost an hour long

[@felinesins7106]

Your channel is the only one I look forward to now

[@rachellydiab]

@@felinesins7106 aw thank you so much 💜✨ needed this today

[@penelopepegg7834]

firstly, i love this video. secondly, your personality really shines through and I love it. but some crit; your content will still shine without forced laughter. I think the shouting blooper would have been funnier at the end. :)

[@goblinb]

I've never heard about green being the color of the devil, but I do know that green was considered the color of the faeries. And there is definitely an association between witches and the fae. And speaking of fae, the hag image of the witch being ugly I think can indicate their being monstrous, inhuman. In fact hags can be considered a kind of fae, hence Jenny Greenteeth (and Meg Mucklebones, the swamp hag from the movie Legend). In certain depictions witches are considered inhuman beings, if not fae. As far as masculine clothing wearing witches, there are male equivalents to the female witches in American Horror Story. And there is the movie The Covenant....

[@suzcruise]

Need a list of all the movies featured in this vid!

[@Lena-fk9sd]

i absolutely love the sound of your voice and cadence. immediately liked and subscribed

[@LynnHermione]

The last bit is interesting, because wizards ALSO wear robes and clothes that worn today would be considered "dresses"

[@yasmimplazza9036]

make a siren/mermaid one!!

[@danielciau4323]

I know that this is mainly film analysis however, Bayonetta strikes me as a very interesting take on witch depictions!

[@trashotaku]

If you do another episode, I'd love to see either werewolf, fairy, or menfolk fashion ngl

[@B-goblins]

Love this! You covered a lot of ground

[@l0ve.aval0n]

This is amazing. The way you categorize things is so fun to watch. New subscriber!!

[@rachellydiab]

@@l0ve.aval0n Thank you sm 💓

[@Satanna.avemaria]

I have to say angel Blake’s design is so simple yet most effective. Her makeup is actually really frightening 😬 when you give it context.

[@Wyrd__One]

There’s one witch I feel never gets her due (granted it wasn’t an American film but still). It came from “Little Witch” (2018), a German fantasy film starring Karoline Herfurth. The style is impeccable, the effects on point. I didn’t like the English dub but it was pretty good regardless. Good work!

[@lanimurray]

I am always so excited when you upload ❤

[@rachellydiab]

blushinggg thank you 🧚‍♂

[@sophiaaldous3199]

Clicked on this as soon as it popped up in my feed. So engaging! Thank you!

[@rachellydiab]

ur the best ty 😇

[@dylanmagoiofthethalasso4032]

As a witch, I just want to say thank you for doing A LOT of research and debunking some of the misinformation about us and the history. I find you from your vampire video which I LOVED! I can't be the only one that thinks the actress for angel in the scene where she's wearing her crown with the camera angle is looking up at her kind of looks like Billie Eilish. As a pagan as well it's sad seeing the demonization of nature. Nature was revered yet feared because nature is both healing and harmful. I'm not sure what denomination or biblical rewrite it was that demonized nature but it SERIOUSLY messed us up as a species. Fun Fact: At a certain time in our history people believed that the wind were demons. I do agree with your point about the main stream cool of the 90's but I can also see it as the girls belonging to a religious school so most of the students aren't going to be wearing alternative clothes. Rachel deserved better. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN HOCUS POCUS!!!!!!!?!?!?!?!?! I did not know that Winifreds dress had runes and it her symbols. Even though they added a line or what have you that symbol is still there 😂Runes were used in magick.

[@jojojooojohannaaa]

so excited to watch!!

[@agen_dior]

Emmy Rossum got shafted on beautiful creatures, some of her best costumes (or atleast more interesting costumes) got cut out of the film! at Lena's party Ridley is wearing a mint green Chanel inspired skirt suit with a long bob (with 60's volume) wig and matching pill box hat which gives a very Jackie O appearance. in more deleted materiel shes wearing a full lace basque with garters and stocking worn under a trench coat with a sleek straight black bob wig

[@nichepeach]

this is my favorite video ever created thank you miss girl on film

[@Treia24]

I was absolutely not expecting Nobuyoshi Araki to come up in this video, lol

[@thefrenchfrywitch257]

Loved this! Cannot wait for the next video!

[@rachellydiab]

@@thefrenchfrywitch257 thank you ✨✨✨

[@reecealexisartistry]

I love these videos ! You should do other classic Halloween costumes like clowns next ❤

[@deidjpeidj]

Another amazing video! I love your level of research & fun way of explaining things. This is the first vid mentioning Suspiria 2018 I've seen that references the Les Medusees dance performance (maybe I have not found the right vids tho). I found it really interesting that the film went with costumes that were more modest than what the original dancers wore. The entire film had costumes that inspired me as well. Also love the inclusion of the amazing costumes worn by Marie Laveau in Coven. As a fellow thin-lipped girly, as much as I love Anya Chalotra as Yennefer in the Witcher, in the books, she was one of the few heroic witches to have thin lips & still be considered a beautiful, romantic lead character. If you are taking suggestions for other supernatural or horror fashion-y icons in film, may I suggest mermaids/ sirens, elves, or the more malevolent fae vs. the cutesier fairies? I feel like all three have influenced clothing trends as well as makeup & hair!

[@rachellydiab]

Hey thank you so much! Thin lipped queens unite ❤❤ and yes thank you for the suggestions!

[@deidjpeidj]

@@rachellydiab Can't wait to see the next vid.

[@noir_time]

Amazing and interesting video❤❤ P.S. about "Black Sunday " film: it is based on the book of Mykola Gogol who was Ukrainian author, not russian and this is Ukrainian heritage, not russian. Thank you